Synonyms of plead

plead 1 of 7

verb (1)

ˈplēd 

as in to argue

to state (something) as a reason in support of or against something under consideration

can I plead temporary insanity for having made that foolish decision?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• argue
• contend
• reason
• convince
• insist
• assert
• explain
• maintain
• persuade
• justify
• mention
• suggest
• claim
• consider
• cite
• urge
• affirm
• propose
• defend
• advise
• submit
• offer
• adduce
• discuss
• counsel
• give
• enforce
• recommend
• advocate
• avow
• aver
• rebut
• refute
• rationalize
• advance
• disprove
• support
• avouch
• counter
• espouse
• confute
• debate
• champion

plead (for)

2 of 7

verb (2)

as in to seek

to make a request for

the children pleaded for a kitten for Christmas

Synonyms & Similar Words

• seek
• request
• call (for)
• speak (for)
• sue (for)
• ask (for)
• wish (for)
• apply (for)
• beg (for)
• desire
• require
• press (for)
• quest
• clamor (for)
• insist (on)
• demand
• urge
• petition (for)
• solicit
• claim
• invite
• invoke
• bespeak
• exact
• importune
• enjoin
• requisition

plead (to)

3 of 7

verb (3)

as in to beg

to make a request to (someone) in an earnest or urgent manner

weary of charities that are always pleading to people of modest means to contribute even more than they already have

Synonyms & Similar Words

• beg
• petition
• appeal (to)
• call upon
• pray
• call on
• ask
• beseech
• implore
• impetrate
• conjure
• entreat
• require
• besiege
• solicit
• supplicate
• importune
• request
• invoke
• sue
• desire
• compel
• insist
• force
• coerce
• demand
• bludge
• sponge
• cadge
• claim
• mooch
• command

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• suggest
• imply
• please
• hint
• intimate
• satisfy
• appease
• gratify
• placate
• oblige
• content
• pacify
• conciliate
• comfort
• console
• quiet
• mollify

pleading

4 of 7

adjective

as in prayerful

asking humbly

a pleading husband seeking forgiveness once again from his long-suffering wife

Synonyms & Similar Words

• prayerful
• begging
• soliciting
• suppliant
• persistent
• beseeching
• imploring
• supplicatory
• entreating
• insistent
• supplicating
• supplicant
• importunate

pleading

5 of 7

noun

ˈplē-diŋ 

as in plea

an earnest request

coldhearted tourists pointedly ignoring the pleadings of the city's many street urchins

Synonyms & Similar Words

• plea
• appeal
• prayer
• petition
• cry
• desire
• entreaty
• solicitation
• suit
• supplication
• demand
• application
• adjuration
• call
• insistence
• suppliance
• conjuration
• requisition
• claim

pleaded

6 of 7

verb (4)

variants or pled also plead

past tense of plead

as in argued

to state (something) as a reason in support of or against something under consideration

can I plead temporary insanity for having made that foolish decision?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• argued
• maintained
• contended
• asserted
• reasoned
• explained
• justified
• claimed
• insisted
• urged
• mentioned
• convinced
• defended
• cited
• offered
• persuaded
• adduced
• submitted
• affirmed
• proposed
• suggested
• averred
• discussed
• advocated
• advised
• recommended
• considered
• gave
• enforced
• refuted
• counseled
• counselled
• countered
• championed
• avowed
• rationalized
• advanced
• supported
• espoused
• debated
• avouched
• rebutted
• disproved
• confuted

pleading

7 of 7

verb (5)

present participle of plead

as in arguing

to state (something) as a reason in support of or against something under consideration

can I plead temporary insanity for having made that foolish decision?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• arguing
• reasoning
• contending
• insisting
• asserting
• convincing
• explaining
• justifying
• maintaining
• claiming
• mentioning
• persuading
• suggesting
• urging
• citing
• considering
• proposing
• affirming
• submitting
• offering
• advising
• defending
• advocating
• adducing
• enforcing
• giving
• discussing
• recommending
• averring
• avowing
• counseling
• rationalizing
• advancing
• refuting
• debating
• supporting
• counselling
• countering
• espousing
• rebutting
• championing
• avouching
• disproving
• confuting

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of plead

Verb

Luigi Mangione pleads not guilty to federal charges in CEO killing ABC affiliate WVEC spoke with ESCU junior Paola Gonzalez, who was at the scene of the shooting. —Charlotte Slovin, ABC News, 27 Apr. 2025

Facing impeachment and a federal investigation into bid-rigging involving gifts and favors from state contractors, Rowland resigned July 1, 2004, and pleaded guilty to a corruption charge Dec. 23, 2004. —Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 26 Apr. 2025

Noun

Lucas and others also claimed in court pleadings that Zervos refused to accede to a background check. —Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2025

Todd McCain, the plaintiff, has until Sept. 1 to seek permission to join additional parties or amend pleadings. —Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2025

Verb

He's pleaded not guilty to the state charges. —Samira Asma-Sadeque, People.com, 14 Mar. 2025

Casimir, who is being held in a federal lock-up, pleaded not guilty to a conspiracy defrauding the United States, export violations and weapons smuggling in February and awaits trial. —Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 14 Mar. 2025

Verb

On July 22, 2021, he was convicted of robbery after pleading in mental health court and released pending sentencing. —Ellen Moynihan, New York Daily News, 8 Apr. 2025

Burnett, then 21, of Hammond got ten years in prison in October after pleading guilty to neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury, a Level 3 felony. —Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2025

Phrases Containing plead

• plead (for)
• plead (to)